RAVENSBOURNE COLLEGE OF DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Minutes of a meeting of the Management Committee held on 14th April 2008

Present: Robin Baker (Chairman)

Genevieve Cowcher
Doreen DeBellotte
Rachel Green
John O’Boyle
Steve Bowman
Barbara Howell
Peter Pilgrim

With: Diane Evans

Renate Divers (part)

08.066 MINUTES OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON 17th MARCH 2008

Received: Minutes of the Management Committee held on 17th March 2008

(For approval)

Noted: The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

Approved: Minutes of the Management Committee 17th March 2008

08.067 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES AND ACTION LIST

(i) The Course Marketing Update

Received: Update on Marketing of Under-recruiting Courses (MC/08/052)

Noted: The Director of Information Services outlined the current marketing activities to
support all courses. It was noted that the QLS system in the Registry
Departments needs reviewing in order to provide usable marketing data across
departments. It was suggested that efforts to retain interested candidates
should be strengthened and this is being addressed in a number of ways. It
was acknowledged that the roles of both marketing staff and academic staff in
the recruitment process need to be clarified as do budgets for this purpose. It
was noted that a full review of marketing and admissions policy and procedure
will be carried out to address all outstanding issues and ensure that the
College’s systems are ‘fit for purpose.’ It was proposed that the Value for
Money project could be extended to marketing, admissions and widening
participation activities in order to provide additional clarity. It was reported that

Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication

Minutes of the Management Committee
14th April 2008

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 changes will shortly be made to the Aim Higher funding model which will require
the College to build compacts directly with targeted schools; this will provide an
additional focus for marketing/recruitment activities.

The cancellation of the Barnet compact was noted and it was requested that the
Director of Information Services provides the Committee with the background to
this. It was agreed that any problems reported in the interview process should
be addressed by targeted staff training. It was agreed that further discussion of
activities to support individual courses is still required.

Accepted: Update on Marketing of Under-recruiting Courses (MC/08/052)

08.068 RESERVED ITEM

08.069 STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

Received: Student Accommodation Rent Increases (MC/08/055)

(For approval)

Noted: In discussion it was noted that accommodation costs in Greenwich will be

higher and the increase should be phased in order to facilitate student
budgeting. It was noted that the length of tenancy provided at Ravensbourne is
longer than comparable colleges as students stay until July. It was agreed that
the Director of Finance and the Director of Resources will provide a transition
model of rental income for the next meeting of the Management Committee.

Accepted: Student Accommodation Rent Increases (MC/08/055)

08.070 ALLOCATION OF SOUTH LONDON LLN ASNS AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FUNDS

Received: Allocation of South London LLN ASNs (MC/08/056)

(For information)

Noted: It was noted that the Bridging Programme for FD/HND to BSc (Hons) Broadcast
Technology has been awarded £19,500. A total of 15 ASNs from the South
London Lifelong Learning Network have been granted against a request for 20.
The Director of Finance undertook to inform the Finance Department.

Accepted: Allocation of South London LLN ASNs (MC/08/056)

08.071 HEFCE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR ASNS IN 2009-10 AND 2010-11

Received: Letter from HEFCE re. allocation of funds for ASNs (MC/08/057)
(For information)

Noted: It was requested that the Heads of Faculty put together a Strategic
Development Fund bid showing a growth of 1%. It was suggested that Derek
Hicks is consulted to discuss the bid and it was noted that potential growth in
the postgraduate programmes should also be looked at. A draft paper will be

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 submitted to the Management Committee in two weeks’ time. Prepared by
Heads of Faculty.

Approved: Letter from HEFCE re. allocation of funds for ASNs (MC/08/057)

08.072 ACCOMMODATION MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Received: Accommodation at Greenwich (MC/08/058)

(For approval)

Noted: It was noted that the College has been in discussions with Quintain concerning
the provision of student accommodation on the Greenwich Peninsula. The
College’s agreement, in principle, of the plans is now required in order for
Quintain to move to the next stage in the planning process. A detailed
discussion took place regarding the implications of the rental period and the
optimum number of units. It was noted that it would be helpful to look at what
other colleges offer. The College is currently considering a rental period of 44
weeks on a minimum of 200 units with the potential of pre-emption rights during
holiday periods. The agreement will be structured as a one year arrangement
that could be pre booked year by year. It was agreed that the College should
respond to Quintain if there are concerns regarding the rental period, but is
happy to proceed in principle with the provision as currently agreed. The
College will retain the right to negotiate further details once a full assessment of
its requirements has been made.

Accepted: Accommodation at Greenwich (MC/08/058)

08.073 AGREEMENT WITH DONG AH

Received: Draft Collaboration agreement between Dong-Ah Institute of Media and

Arts and Ravensbourne (MC/08/059)
(For information)

Noted: It was noted that the Dong Ah Institute is keen to send students to
Ravensbourne for the second year of a foundation, honours degree or on a top
up degree course. A discussion took place regarding optimum numbers, a
relevant qualification that could be offered and the impact of accommodation
requirements on the College. It was noted that the DIMA courses finish in
December and the college would need to consider this in planning to accept
students. It was agreed that a minimum number of students would need to be
guaranteed in order to run a tailored programme. It was agreed that the College
should await details of how many students are interested in coming before
making firm plans for this programme.

Accepted: Draft Collaboration agreement between Dong-Ah Institute of Media and

Arts and Ravensbourne (MC/08/059

08.074 LSC RELOCATION STRATEGY

Received: LSC Relocation Strategy Summary (MC/08/060)

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 (For information)

Noted: This document has been sent to the LSC for feedback. An elemental analysis is
awaited from John Desmond. Any comments should be given to the Head of
the Faculty of Communication Media by the end of this week. It was noted that
this document should not be circulated outside of the LSC for operational
reasons. Foreign Office Architects will be requested not to change the base
drawings.

Accepted: LSC Relocation Strategy Summary (MC/08/060)

08.075 DIGITAL DESKTOP PROTOTYPING PILOT

Received: A plan for piloting digital desktop prototyping facilities (MC/08/061)

(For approval)

Noted: The proposal is to create, within the current design studio space, a digital
desktop facility that will replicate plans for the Greenwich building. The plans
are currently in draft whilst Miles Metcalfe and John Durrant continue to work on
refined versions. The anticipated cost of £80,000 to £100,000 to develop this
proposal was drawn to the Committee’s attention. It was noted that only
transition money is available in the budget for such a project. It was agreed
that the Director of Resources would provide input into the costing model and
the Head of the Faculty of Design would submit a revised proposal in two
weeks’ time. The Head of the Faculty of Design undertook to speak to the
Human Resources Manager regarding keeping relevant staff informed of
developments.

Accepted: A plan for piloting digital desktop prototyping facilities (MC/08/061)

08.076 RESERVED ITEM

08.077 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The Director of Information Services reported that the copy for the prospectus is
arriving today and requested Management Committee sign-off by him and the
Director. Copies will be available for inspection by contacting Marketing. The
prospectus will be available at the end of April.

08.078 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Management Committee will be held on Monday 28TH April 2008 at 9.30 am in
the Boardroom.

Diane Evans
Minute Taker

Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication

Minutes of the Management Committee
14th April 2008

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